Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-31
HOW TO WALK WELL.
THE POSITION OF THE BODY IS
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.


ror-Throwing Out the Chest-A Trans
formation--A Positive Relief-No Shout
der Braces Needed-A Quick Walk.
To walk well, then, requires cultivation
and exercise of the muscles of the entire
body. The very position of the body is of
great Importance Do you think that you
walk wellH Have you ever criticised your
selfs Let us see. You can be the best critic
if You will listen.
Stand before a full length mirror. Notice
your appearance, down to your very feet.
Now turn sideways, and look carefully.
Don't you see how your shoulders and hips
are carried forwarda You carry your head
very well, but are you GRACEFUL Now, keep
ing your exactly natural position, walk
slowly back and forth past the mirror (which
should reach the floor) When you step, does
not your heel come down first, and does not
the whole sole of your foot show when you
walk up to the mirror facing it! Now stop,
turn your profile to the glass, and, without
moving the body, look at your reflection.
Then slowly straighten the spine, and throw
out the chest and pit Of the stomach by taking
a long breath and finally contract the muscles
of the abdomen. This drawing in of the
abdomen involuntarily throws out the chest
and throat. Soldiers have this exercise
taught them as one of the first movements
toward gaining an erect position.
Now see the change in your appearancel
Your awkwardness is gone. Your spine has
a gentle curve from the base of the neck to
the end of the body The small of the back
is hollow; the waist is smaller; the hips are
well thrust back. Now straighten the knees
and press the whole body slightly forward
until it rests, not upon the heels, but slightly
upon the ball of the foot and the hollow of
the instep. Then raise the head, drawing in
the chin slightly but never enough to cause a
double chin and look straight. Stand thus
for an instant, with the arms hanging easily
at the sides, carrying them rather back of
the line of the body than forward of it. Do
you see the transformation , OF course you
are little stiff at first and cannot overcome
a decided unfamiliarity with the ngurs you
see in the glass; but viii you not admit all
improvement in your appearances!
Walk back and forth before the mirror,
always keeping the erect position. Now
stop and suddenly drop into the old and
natural lor, rather, the unnatural position
you have always assumed, simply because
you have never known better One glance
is enough! Would you have believed that so
simple a movement as contracting the mus
cles of the abdomen and Strengthening the
spine would alter you so greatly!
Practice, assuming this position constantly,
and after week You will find it a positive re-
lief Your former dropping, STOPPING position
will soon become painful, and you will gladly
assume the upright one for rest After
time you will find your walk changed, invol-
| unfairly. As your back and hips go stronger,
the muscles of the calves of the legs will
harden, and firmer walk or step will result
Practice walking on tip toe around your
| room, a few steps at a time. Raise the body
on the toes, and bend the knees backward
| and forward. Exercise the hips by bending
| the body in every direction. Walk every day,
but do not over fatigue yourself. Exercise
| carried beyond comfort is injurious and never
improving.
Do not carry the body stiffly, nor the
| shoulders so far back as TO be awkward Many
| people put on shoulder braces, and fondly i'm
| agine they are gaining a magnificent carriage
| by wearing them The effect of shoulders
| thrown far back las they are with braces,
with the chin, neck and abdomen and hips
| thrust forward, is awkward in the extreme
| No shoulder braces are needed if the chest and
| pit of the stomach are thrown forward and
tine abdomen contracted. Too straight spine
is awkward Garry the body easily, lightly,
and grace will come with practice.
Remove tins shoes, and in the stockings
walk the floor Of your room. Step first on
the heels, then bring down the foot fatty, as
the lrishman does That is not graceful is
it2 Now try another way. Walk around on
the ball Of the sole of the foot (which is be
tween the instep and the toes without touch
ing the heel to the carpet Can you rot feel
the muscles strain in the calf of the legl That
is the way they should do. After few trials
you will find that You can so place the foot
in taking the step as TO lightly touch the
heel the instant after the bail of the sole rests
on the floor. In lifting the foot to take the
next step, slightly and almost imperceptibly
push against the floor with the toes of the
foot you are raising. Then continue to step
practicing these movements.
If quick walk is desired, the inner side of
the sole of the foot THE BALI usually touches
the floor first, and also pushes the floor upon
lifting it to take the next step; but if a slow
and dignified step is desired, let the outer side
of the ball touch first. Then as the foot is
| raised there is slight roll of the sole, so that
when the push is given, it again comes from
the inner side of the ball. as before. This re-
quires little time, and the step is necessarily
slower. There should be no hesitation per-
ceptible Dignided men and women instinct
lively assume this position of the foot, as it
gives greater firnIness and solidiey to the
step, and the balance in walking slowly is
thus preserved. George Winthrop in Demo
rests Monthly.